Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-07


pointment, they left the door of the
federal lines and rode swiftly TO Pitts
burg landing. Captain Alger, who after
wards became brigadier general, has
frequently spoke TO me of theanNlehes oil
that ride when he must have recalled
something like the lines;
Uo. pony down the lonely road,
Strike now your cheerieSt pace,
Campfres cannot burn brighter
Than burns my anxious lace.
AS each mile was tolled of the hour for
the governors departure grew nearer
and nearer. 1t was only thirty.iive min
utcs before two o clock when they
reached sight of TIE landing. 1t was
within less than half an hour of the leav-
ing time of the boat before General
Changers letter was placed in Governor
Blair's hands.
As General Granger had suggested,
the governor hesitated. He disliked the
severity of the regular army officers and
thought their influence over volunteers
was d detrimental rather than effective.
The condition of the regiment was pre-
sented by Captain Alger in Jew words,
and both he and Lieutenant Walbridge
strongly urged the force OF General
Grangcr's recommendation. The gov
ernor impressed with their earncstness,
yielded to their arguments, and Just 4
few moments before the boat started,
which was to convey him to Michigan,
he turned to General John Robertson,
his adiutant general, and said:
Write an order appointing Captain
Sheridan colonel of the Second Michigan
cavalry, to take command atonce.
Only few moments were left Tor the
adjutant general to act He took hall
sheet of note paper and wrote hurriedly
these words:
PIrrsBuRa LANDING, May 25, 1862. Cap.
tain Philip II. Sheridan is hereby appointed
colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry. lie
is directed to take command at once.
AUSTIN BLAIR, Governor.
This was handed to Captain Alger and
the boat pushed out into the Tennessee,
and a great soldier had been started on
his way to fame.
Nv
Captain Alger and Lieutenant Wal
bridge fed themselves and their horses,
and as the gathering shadows OF night
drew over the battle field of Shiloh they
started for n all.night's ride toward the
front. IL was near daylight when the
ride was finished. The excrtion killed
Alger's horse. Mounting another he
rode to General Granger's headquarters
and announced to that officer Captain
Sherldan's appointment. General Gran
ger directed him to carry it to sheridan,
who was some two miles distant at Hal
lccks Headquarters. Alger obeycd, and
half hour later met for the first time
his new colonel and future general. He
presented him with his appointment ana
Phil Sheridan was that morning the hap
piest man in the whole of Halleck' s army.
The cOlonelcy which Ohio did not give her
own son had Michigan provided. The
officers of the staff were Immediately
summoned to celebrate his promotion.
As the officers drank their bumpers OF
good cheer in his tent they wished his ftl-
ture success in loyal style. One brother
officer of the staff more enthusiastic than
the rest pledged the new colonels health
with the suggestion:
This promotion Is only one more step
towards brigadier's STAR
How little men know of themselves.
Sheridan, flashed with the joy of the oc-
casion, rctOrtcd:
mo. gentlemen, thank you for ynor
good wishes, but l want no higher honor.
I am now a colonel of cavalry
4*x
The next day he came over and took
command of the regiment. he was a
stranger to It's officers us well as its rank
and file. All of them were on tip-toe OF
expectation to see their new commander.
HIS appearance was not heroic. lie ap-
DpdTtIt 1T pal ddC SIhNa III Ills
mentals and looked so small that it was
with difficulty ne was seen from one end
of the regiment to the other. He was
then slight of figure, with short, stumpy
legs and quiet broad shoulders. He acted
every inch a soldier, however, and the
regiment got new life under his dlrec-
ton. He was never mustered in as its
colonel and do not think was ever com
mssioned as such, for the demands OF
the service almost Immediately called
HIM on n raid during which he fought the
battle of Bonneville Mss, which made
him brig der general within little more
| than month from the day when he
| thought the measure of his success was
| full when he was made colonel of the
Second Michigan cavalry. Captain Al
| ger led torlorn hope in that cavalry
combat which made him major.
Nv
There have been mighty changes since
| those days. Governor Blair went from
| the executive chair of Michigan to con
| gresS. Alger is now governor while
| Blair, who slid into the Greely movement
| in '12, is just coming back into the party
| fold again to tell the story OF his good
| administr alton of Michigan's affairs dur
( ing the war In those days, at the age OF
| seventeen. was first sergeant OF Captain
Alger's company and only the other day
with him recalled these facts OF how one
| of the greatest generals on earth first
secured chance to make Use OF his great
| powers.